Explosive Eighteen

There will probably be a few minor spoiler alerts in this review, FYI. This was my least favorite installment in this series for a few different reasons. First off, I thought the whole Hawaii thing was way overblown and wasn’t explained or put into any kind of context for readers until well into the story. It was irritating being out of the loop as to what had happened, and then even more irritating once I found out what happened. Pretty lame all the way around.

The situations with Joyce and Buggy were two other big annoyances. Stephanie just let both of them walk all over her. Why? There were so many other things she could have done to rid herself of those two.

My other problem with this one was the ongoing saga between Stephanie, Morelli, and Ranger. I applauded her initial decision to swear off men, in general, until she got herself together and figured out what she wanted. Smart move – finally! Problem is, that didn’t last long and then she was right back to the same old thing.

I thought this story seemed pieced (thrown) together and there wasn’t much of a point to it. Stephanie got her butt kicked at one point and the reactions from both Morelli and Ranger were disappointing. Morelli’s reaction was practically nonexistent. Ranger’s was mostly in keeping with his character and his reactions to things, in general, but still. . .disappointing. From my perspective, there were no good story line wrap ups with this one. It definitely felt like just another holding pattern type of ending. . .more of the same (probably) to follow in the next installment.

So now I’m wondering, at what point will I just decide to bail on this series? I guess I haven’t quite reached it yet. Curiosity will keep me going for the time being.

It is amazing that Janet Evanovich continues to get a little more creative when she writes, Explosive Eighteen is better than some of her previous novels. Stephanie Plum is more aggressive in this funny, no hilarious book! And Lula? Well, Lula is just good ol’ Lula. Whamm again and again with her. She is in heat over a new guy that is not very law abiding. As for Vinnie, once again he is on the brink of disaster. The office is being rebuilt after a fire that began how? Their temporary office, a motor home, also some how goes up in flames. Stephanie keeps up with Morelli and Ranger. There are those that want Stephanie gone but why? What is this “photo” that suddenly appears In her purse and why? Read this fun filled book and you’ll find out! Rated PG. Strong language. DP. Castro Valley, CA.

Like watching silly comedies, or movies, these books are meant to entertain . . . period! Of course these Stephanie Plum novels are written to a formula, and that is the whole point! I know what to expect and I know when to laugh. The characters are always who they are; from mom and her bottle and iron, to Rex and his soup can . . . we know who they are and what they do. . . . and we always get that sense of stability and familiarity that we long for in life from these books.

My own life is full of stress and pain and though I love to read heavier, more thoughtful classics, I am attracted to stories like this for my emotional retreat. I will never have to get too attached to any of these characters (except for Rex) because they don’t demand it! While reading these stories, I never have to solve the world’s problems or feel guilty because I haven’t done enough, in my lifetime, to clean up ALL the messes humankind has left behind . . . instead I can rejoice in glee every time Stephanie fails at a capture and marvel at Lula and her brand of wisdom or her latest “diet” . . . I can be secretly attracted to Ranger and adore the bizarre Grandma Mazur . . . and I always expect a spectacular vehicle explosion. There is always a bit of a mystery but not one that breaks my brain at the end of a hot day at work . . . I can read and go along with the flow of the story . . . and when the end comes all too soon, I am satisfied and ready for the next installment.

I hope that Stephanie never makes a choice between one or the other of her guys . . . I think she should be free to be herself . . . never becoming like her mother . . . barefoot in the kitchen . . . eyeing the cupboard with the hidden bottle of whiskey, but remaining a character with hidden dreams of walking from one day to the next while maintaining a personal integrity of freedom.

I appreciate this style of entertainment . . . simple and funny with no surprises . . . yet charged with a certain measure of hope that it will all work out in the end. . . because it always does.

As usual, I really enjoyed the book. It was entertaining and amusing. It’s always nice to know that when I need to read something that’s not cerebral, Stephanie Plum is there.

Ranger and Morelli finally come to blows. I knew it would happen eventually and who knows, maybe it will again. Grandma Mazur was uncharacteristically well behaved considering. Stephanie gets sucked into some cloak and dagger mystery on her way home from Hawaii. It gets her some stalkers and one crazy dude that wants to “kill her good”. In this book, we find that when she feels threatened she can definitely put a hurtin’ on someone. Go Steph!

I still find it amusing that so many reviewers complain about the series being stagnant, but still continue to read. Nothing is going to change. If it does, I can only imagine the series will be over. I must admit, I would like to see Stephanie become a bit more adept (i.e. lock picking, gun handling). With that perpetual black cloud hanging over her head, her apprehensions and her life in general would still be hilarious.

The lates installment of Stephanie’s adventures seems tired to me. Nothing is very fresh, or very amusing. There is the occasional smile, but no laughs. The plot is far fetched, and there are no really memorable incidents. Stephanie is still uable to make up her mind between morellie and Ranger, and it remains something of a mystery why Morelli continues to put up with her, when there muwt be girls around who would be only too happy to committ to him. But he just waits for Stephanie to stop drooling over Ranger.

Lula continues to be made more and more absurd, in this episode she decides she has drunk a love potion, and imagines herself in love with a huge fat purse snatcher. Grandma Mazur doesn’t appear much, and altogether this series seems to be running out of steam. There is definitely nothing explosive about this one.

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